Silurian Period

Let's go to the past

Silurian Period

Let's go to the past

Major Geological Events

Coral reefs develop, early continents collide with what is now North America forming mountains. Continental elevations were much lower and the ocean elevation was much higher. The sea rose dramatically as the glaciers from the late Ordovician period melted. Vascular plants started to plant and spread throughout the country. During this period the ocean covered most of the northern regions. Even though the ocean was higher than the land it was still very shallow compared to today it was only approx. 300 feet.

Climate & Enviroment

It was also a time of an icehouse because it included great sheets of ice but by the middle of the Silurian period it was much warmer instead of cold and covered in ice. It was a new greenhouse phase which lead to the melting of the ice sheets which contributed to the rising of the sea waters. The result was the north and south cold climates much as they are to this day. The lower latitudes were warm unlike the higher latitudes where glaciers remained. Since it was warm at the lower latitudes the air conditions resulted in the deposition of salt in the sea waters. When you walk outside make sure to take the enviroment in. You would see ocean and lots of it, coral reefs, fish with actual jaws, plants that are actually rooted into the ground, arachnids, different bugs.

Dominant Organisms

Fish, insects, the first true plants were actually rooted into the ground. Things like jawed fish, the arachnid and Psilophyte. Silurian fossils show extensive coral reefs built from tabulate and horn corals with calcium carbonate skeletons. In the early Silurian, a class of jawless fish, Agnatha, similar to modern hagfish and lampreys, was most common. Eurypterids were the apex predators of the Silurian oceans. Eurypterids were arthropods, probably most closely related to modern horseshoe crabs. During the Silurian Period, the climate was generally warm and stable, in contrast to the glaciers of the late Ordovician and the extreme heat of the Devonian. A warm, stable climate provided for one of the most significant developments to take place during the Silurian Period: the arrival of the first plants to colonize the land. Lichens were probably the first photosynthetic organisms to cling to the rocky coasts of the early continents.

Things to see

There are many things that people would like to see. The coral reefs, the bugs, the fossils, the plants, and new animals. All of these things that are just coming back from the cold glacial period. You would find fossils that have been pressed by tons of ice blocks. The main thing to see is the plants and the sea world. There are new plants that are starting to come and actually root into the ground for the first time. There are even plants that are extinct now alive and growing. You would see the new insects such as spiders which have been newly found and are thriving. There are coral reefs that are being made that are beautiful to see. The new fish are exciting and becoming different species that have jaws the other fish that exist are jawless fish and even they are becoming more species. That is what you would want to visit.

Safety and Comfort

Safety always comes first. Tight pants that are also long. You wouldn't want anything crawling up your legs. Earmuffs, it gets cold at night and even more creepy crawly's come out at night. Stuff to swim in that won't get to heavy or hard to walk in. You want to go see the fish and coral reefs of course. A flashlight, you wouldn't want to extinct anything that is alive then. Now it can be more comfortable. You would need a tent, sleeping bags, and pillows with no holes in them. Along with comfortable clothes that are tight so it's still safe.